‘Core Elements’ of ATSC 3.0 Physical Transmission Layer Reach ‘Candidate Standard’ Status
In perhaps the biggest ATSC 3.0 milestone to date, all the “core building-block elements” of the next-gen broadcast system’s physical transmission layer have been elevated to “candidate standard” status, following ATSC member balloting that began in early September, the ATSC said in a Tuesday announcement.
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The development, which had been expected (see 1509030001), gives manufacturers the green light to begin building prototype equipment to test ATSC 3.0's physical transmission layer in real-world conditions, the ATSC said. ATSC 3.0's physical layer allows TV broadcasters “to choose from a wide variety of transmission parameters so that each station can tailor its signal to best serve its local market by providing the combination of services and coverage area best suited for the market and its terrain,” it said.
The physical layer “will allow high-capacity, low-robustness modes and also lower-capacity, high-robustness modes in the same transmission,” said ATSC President Mark Richer in a statement. “That flexibility means that we’re likely to see both 4K Ultra HD broadcasts running side-by-side with robust mobile broadcasts to handheld devices.” Elevating the physical layer to candidate standard status “sets the stage for field testing in the months ahead,” leading to the physical layer advancing to the “proposed standard” phase in 2016, Richer said.
Within an hour after the ATSC announcement, One Media, Sinclair’s technology joint venture with Coherent Logix, became the first to score publicity points when it released a statement saying the features of the approved ATSC 3.0 physical layer “include many of those developed” by One Media “and supported by other broadcasters and equipment manufacturers,” such as Pearl TV and Samsung. By voting to elevate all aspects of the physical layer to candidate standard, “the ATSC has validated our long-held vision of an IP-based, robust, mobile, dynamic and adaptable transmission standard, allowing us to thrive in the vast ocean of the Internet,” said Mark Aitken, Sinclair vice president-advanced technology, in the statement.
Later in the day, LG Electronics also weighed in with a statement saying the “core technologies” it developed with its affiliated Zenith Lab and with Futurecast partner GatesAir are included in at least 10 of the 15 building blocks in ATSC 3.0's newly ratified physical layer. “Thanks in part to LG technology” that is at the heart of the physical layer candidate standard, “this robust system will bring a new level of flexibility for broadcasters and exciting new services for viewers,” said Jong Kim, LG Electronics senior vice president and president of the Zenith Lab.